bad cough while pregnant....

Sep 15, 2010 - 12 comments

i developed this nasty cough monday night and i have puked most of the night. it's now wednesday and am still coughing pretty heavy....is there anything that can be taken safely while pregnant? i'm afraid to take anything. i have been drinking hot water, honey and tea and it helps very little. was going to buy halls or fisherman's friends but there's a warning for pregnant peeps to consult their dr...at first i thought it was my allergies but i guess not...my stomach and head hurt so much from it. hope im not getting a fever and that i'm not harming this lil guy...havent called the obg bec the receptionist there just makes me wait...i have the gd test next week..so frustrating. i hope i have my energy back to ask him my list of questions. if u have any proven safe remedies please let me know. thanks

Tylenol is all I was allowed to take while pregnant. Doctors don't care much about your comfort level as long as the baby is O.K. Take it easy and get plenty of fluids. Popsicles, decaff tea, chicken soup and soda crackers are all good for an upset stomach. Feel better soon!

I remember I had a very bad sore throat and dr prescribed some supposedly pregnancy-safe drug. When I went to the pharmacist, he seemed surprised, informed me that this was a Category C (Has been tested on animals and appeared to be harmful for foetus) and asked me to either limit my intake or bypass it! So I tried it only once and I decided to stop as I was in my first trimester and didn't want to take risks!

I was having boiled herbal drinks before sleeping with thyme, oregano, grated fresh ginger, lemon, honey. Some herbs are known to be naturally anti bacterial or anti viral. I had to be patient for a week or so and it just went away. It was the ugliest sore throat I never had! At times, I was unable to speak and throat was so swollen and painful.

I learnt from the experience that having fever indicates a bacteria infection, dr said it wasn't my case. My infection was viral and yes I didn't have any fever. When it is a virus, you can really just wait. If it is bacterial then you would need an antiobiotic, some are safe for pregnancy. Good luck!

Hi...I saw ur journal and wanted to offer a suggestion....this may be reflux/GERD.

Many do experience reflux while pregnant....and if u do not have heart burn u do not consider it a possibility...but, it can make u cough.

Ask ur dr, whomever u see next about it and what might be safe to take.

There r a few other things u may want to try....as with neone with reflux/GERD avoid foods that will increase phlegm or acids....like citrus, chocolate, tomato.....coffee.....soda....and dairy products especially later in the day.

Plus u may want to elevate the head of ur bed to help the acids stay down where they belong.

thanks so much ladies for all the responses....i do have a bit of heartburn...and i cant believe i have lost my appetite these two days...soup and crackers are getting me by... i didnt know citrus would make it worse..i have been drinking lots of oj hoping it would help. i really hope it goes away by the weekend...i havent been sick in a couple of years. i will ask my obg next week when i see him and pray it's not some sort of infection. again thanks ladies. Melissa

Hi,
I hope you're feeling better by the time you see this...If your cough isn't productive -bringing up colored mucous -and your chest doesn't burn or rattle when you take a breath, then it could be reflux. If so, chewing crystallized ginger or pineapple and/or eating papain (papaya enzyme) tablets really helped me. (Also the head elevation at night that was previously suggested.) Pushing the fluids -green tea with pasteurized honey (naturally antibacterial with antioxidant), ice water, (NO colored soda or caffeinated drinks!)
If you do have congestion and a fever and the vomiting continues -see your Dr before you become dehydrated! Dehydration can cause premature labor and a ton of other complications for the Mom! Good luck and feel better soon! ~MM

honey is the best remedy with no side effects. You can mix 1 cup (250ml) of pure honey with 1 tsp of ginger juice and only a pinch of black pepper powder and mix it properly. Store the mixure in a bottle and take 1 tsp ,only once daily, ,just half an hour before going to bed at night.This really works...hope it also helps you.....samaa

thanks ladies..i'd rather do the natural way with honey as well.... the cough's been lingering since monday..i just called my obgyn and the nurse said i should ,take dristan (even though my nose is not running she said it could be dripping inwards), benalin and halls/vicks...and tylenol...o geez...i guess ill buy some halls today..i dont really want to take anything else but may have too...if i have a fever im to go to er and if i have any green/yellow flem i am to go see a family dr...yikes...i hope this goes away...it sounds so horrible and my ribs r starting to really hurt.

black licorice (SP) is good for a cough.. I hate the taste but it does help. I popped tums like they were going out of style while pg.. always had heartburn lucky only while pg... I hope you feel better soon!!

I got a really bad cold while pregnant and there wasn't much I could do besides tylenol either. It did keep the fever away though, so that was good. Other then that I did use honey as well for my sore throat, then just stayed in bed and rode it out. It's the worse I know. I hope it passes quickly for you. If you think it might be the flu vs. just a cold do see a Dr. In the meantime, tuck yourself into bed and try to sleep as much as possible...feel better soon Melissa! Wish I could be of more help with advice.

thanks amanda/meli.
just a quick update and i'm off to bed...went to the clinic bec i had a bit of wheezing last night...it turns out i have pneumonia and i have to take it easy or it will induce my labour...i just cant believe this...i have to take antibiotics for 10 days...never had it before so this is freaking me out...she told me to stay home for a week and just relax..that will be hard for me bec i'm always doing something but now i'll just be worrying as usual. will update next week...i hope and pray i dont have early labour..pls keep me in ur prayers. thanks. melissa xo

so this was a bacterial infection! Don't worry, women take antibiotics with no problems during pregnancy. Having a pneumonia will make you cough stronger maybe? I guess so...It is just safe to relax at home not to stress your little one. Take care Melissa!

Hello,
I am 20 weeks pregnant and have had a terrible cough for almost a week now. The cough is worse at night and in the morning. I was told to go on antibiotics but chose not to and try to ride it out with hot water lemon and honey and lots of rest. Unfortunately I feel that it is possibly getting worse and I am getting really nervous. I was up for a few hours in the middle of the night coughing. This morning my throat felt swollen and sore. My ribs and my belly hurt every time I cough.
I wondering if I am putting myself or baby in danger by not taking care of it right away, I am still questioning the antibiotics.
How long should I wait? or have I waited long enough??
so confused.....

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